Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-12-23
THE PRINCES RETURN.
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH.

a NilihloA iAAA' t'fAA~l Niis
A few small dead leaves came rustling
down Happy Court the wind had blown
them off the poplar tree in the corner by
the pump.
B9bble counted them, for he stood at
the window Of the shabbiest house in
the court with his nose fattened against
the window pane.
zone, two, three, four, five" he said,
counting the dead leaves.
Presently he put his hand in his
pocket, and began jingling the pennies
Ecre.
cone, two, three, four" he said.
ooh, dear, but there ought to be five.
For pen wiper costs five, am the old
lady won't take any lcsst'
The house opposite had a tall green
bush showing at tho window, and the
three little Smiths were dancing around
it, making faces the bcckoning across
to Bobbie
mo, l won't, " said Bobbic, as though
they could hear him, Il amt going to
come over. I'm going to stay here till
sister Mary comes"
Just then a tall girl turned the corner
of the street and came marrily up the
court. She had hair as yellow as Bob
bie's, and the same eyes of startled
brown. Bobbio rushed down the
rickety stairs and opened the door for
her.
odd you see the butcher man, round
the corner and his little pigs with the
holly in their mouths2 And the candy
store with the pink and white Kriss
Kringles, and the grocery ~
Yes, yes, Bobbic, she said, patting
his eager head; "now let me sit down a
while and rest myself, and thea I'll tell
you of all the filc sights I've seen to-
day"
So Bobby pulled out the big chair by
the window, and ran to hang up her hat
and coat. Staying in the lonesome
house all day long by himself, had made
him as tidy and thoughtful as a girl.
Then Mary SIT down in the chair with
Bobbie at her feet, and told him Of all
the wonderful things in the up town
shop windows.
Bobbie's eyes grew like stars; he
sighed softly to himself, and in his ex-
citement pulled out the pennies from his
pocket, and began counting them over
once more.
1t was poor little room; the carpet
was so patched thlt it looked like a
coat of many colors, and the curtains
were threadbare. The paper on the wall
that had once been full Of gay-colorcd
boughs and blossoms, now showed only
afew sic<ly leaves spraw.ily against
dingy white.
But the rosy little fire fckerel aad
auttered, and the sun falling in patch
upon the floor brought the poplar shad-
ows with it; and Bobbio's yellow hair
and Mary's together, made warmth and
color for what would else have been
dull picture.
So Mary came to the end of the sights
she had seen, and Bobby asked:
is that alI7 AID its most like the
Prince, amt it, Mary?'
"A little" said Mary, smiling to her
self, for she knew what was coming
next.
"once there was Prince" began
Bobbie; was it a long time ago,
MaryT
He always asked this question here,
and Mary always gave him the same
answer and sighed:
"A long time ago Bobbie."
"And he was tall and handsome and
young; and be dearly loved the Princess
"And he was going to marry her,"
said Mary, and give her everything she
wanted, and then --7
"Aud then he went away inter
rupted Bobb.e. ''and never came back
any more. !"
Though as long as she lived, the
Princess thought ho would, and waited
for him, said Mary.
Bobbie always looked solemn when
they came to this part of the story. In
some inexpIicable way he thought that
he could remember the Princess, and
that he had known her. And had not
her eyes been brown as his Mary'sl
81 feel sorry for the Princess" he said.
Then Mary kissed him.
He jingled his pennies once more.
do you think pcn-wipers are nice,